First phase of bidding for Gay Games X to close soon

San Francisco – 2 July 2012

CONTACT:
Federation of Gay Games: Dennis Sneyers; dsneyers@gaygames.org


First phase of bidding for Gay Games X to close soon
Five expressions of interest to date ahead of 15 July deadline


With less than two weeks to the first deadline in the process for bidding for Gay Games X, five expressions of interest have already been received by the international Federation of Gay Games (FGG). The organizations cover three continents, with groups in Orlando, Rio de Janeiro, Limerick, London, and Paris indicating they are pursuing a bid. The deadline for submission of RFI (request for information) documents is 15 July, with a first review of potential bidders to be complete by the end of this month.

Gay Games X will take place in 2018, with the site selection vote taking place in 2013 in Cleveland, the host city of Gay Games 9 in August 2014 (www.gg9cle.com).

FGG Officer for Site Selection Dennis Sneyers (Chicago) explains: “This is the first time we have used an RFI. We added this step mainly because we wanted to give every chance for a joint event in 2018 to be managed by the FGG and GLISA. This would have had an impact on our primary bid document, the RFP (request for proposal). While we finalize that RFP document, in order to allow bidding organizations time to start their work, we provided an RFI that outlines the main features of the event and the information for which we’ll be asking.”

FGG co-president Kurt Dahl (Chicago) expressed his pleasure at the response so far: “We will know which cities are truly interested in a few more days, but the groups already expressing an interest offer a great choice. We urge any cities considering a bid to submit the RFI document on time, so as to remain in consideration. Time is running out to express interest in hosting the largest international sports and culture festival in the world open to all.”

Sneyers spoke of the key events that would follow the RFI review: “Bidders will receive our Request For Proposal (RFP), and later, a series of appendices that complete the document, including the Red Books for Sport, Culture and Ceremonies. These documents provide detailed guidelines, recommendations, and requirements for the components of Gay Games X. We invite members of these organizations to join us at our Annual General Assembly 19-22 August in Sofia, Bulgaria where we will hold an information session. Early in 2013, bidders will submit their bid documents describing their plans for Gay Games X, with short-listed bidders receiving visits from FGG site inspectors in August. And of course, the big moment will come towards the end of 2013 when the FGG member organizations will meet in Cleveland to choose the host for Gay Games X.”

RFI documents and background information may be found online at 2018.gaygames.org.

*******

About The Federation of Gay Games: The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event’s founding principles of “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best”™. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986 – 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990 – 7,300 participants), New York (1994 – 12,500 participants), Amsterdam (1998 – 13,000 participants), Sydney (2002 – 11,000 participants), Chicago (2006 – 11,700 participants), and Cologne, Germany (2010 – 9,500 participants). Gay Games 9 will take place in Cleveland + Akron Ohio USA 9 – 16 August 2014. Visit www.2014GayGamesCleveland.com for more information.

“Gay Games”, “Federation of Gay Games”, the interlocking circles device, and the phrase “Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best” are trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. Trademarks are registered in the USA, Canada, Benelux, the UK, Germany, and Australia.